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Closer Santos hopes to return within two weeks

Closer Santos hopes to return within two weeks

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Sergio Santos

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ANAHEIM -- Sergio Santos is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday and remains optimistic that he will be back in action within the next two to three weeks.

Toronto's closer has been out since April 21 with inflammation in his right shoulder. He was shut down from all baseball activities while receiving treatment but is nearing the point of being able to start his rehab.

"I'll do some shoulder program stuff and kind of strengthen the muscles around my shoulder and then start playing catch," Santos said.

"I don't know [a timeframe], but it shouldn't be too long. I'm assuming it should probably be a couple of weeks of getting my arm strength back to game form. Hopefully within the next 12 to 14 days -- that would be perfect."

Santos first experienced discomfort while recording a save against the Royals on April 20. He arrived at the ballpark the following day, and when the soreness didn't go away, he felt compelled to inform the coaching staff.

It was a new experience for Santos -- a former shortstop -- because it was the first time he ever suffered an injury as a pitcher. Even though it's possible that Santos could have pitched through the pain, both the club and the right-hander felt it was in his best interest to take a cautious approach.

"I want to come back as quickly as I can just because whenever you come to a new team you want to show what you've got," said Santos, who was acquired from the White Sox for pitching prospect Nestor Molina during the offseason. "The hard part is kind of holding the reins back and not letting me go.

"They are taking their time and it kind of shows that they care about me. They want me to get healthy and help this team because me being injured obviously doesn't help the team and me trying to play while I'm injured doesn't help much either."

Santos, who has allowed five runs in five innings this season, flew to California shortly after suffering the injury to be examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum.

While the injury was a disappointing setback, it did allow Santos to visit his family in a neighboring suburb of Anaheim while he waited to rejoin the Blue Jays on their West Coast road trip.

"It's bittersweet," Santos said. "I wanted to be at home to spend some time with my family but I want to be out with the guys, playing baseball with them. I've been watching, following them, on the MLB Network and my baseball package.

"It was nice but just being back in the clubhouse feels good, and it feels good to put your stuff back on and I'm feeling a lot better so I'm excited about that."

Santos is 6-8 with 33 saves in 120 career innings with the Blue Jays and White Sox.